Head of finance and central services jobs

About Starlight

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

Role Overview

Starlight has a long and successful track record of delivering high-profile, high-value special events, including the prestigious Blenheim Ball, Newbury Race Day, and until recently, the Highclere Clay Pigeon Shoot. These events are supported by influential committees and have played a critical role in raising income, stewarding donors and connecting supporters with our purpose.

With a gap in our Philanthropy team and maternity cover needed until around May next year, this 9-month fixed-term role exists to lead, develop and deliver Starlight’s flagship events at a senior level. Immediate responsibilities are for the Starlight Health Play Awards a key stewardship event in October; and the development of a Royal Palace Event to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Starlight likely to be in November. There is also the opportunity to shape the Starlight Event Strategy, with the development of a new event building on the success of our Newbury Race Days and the development of our biennial activity with the Blenheim Ball Committee.

This is a senior, delivery-focused role designed for an experienced events professional who can hit the ground running. Working closely with the Starlight Team and Committees, you will bring leadership, strategic judgement and outstanding project management to ensure Starlight events continue to excel in reputation, income and supporter experience. 

Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader who is passionate about delivering lasting impact for people with disabilities and other marginalised communities. As our new Director of Programme Impact, you will shape the strategic direction and development of our programme portfolio, ensuring our partner-led work continues to grow in reach, quality, effectiveness, and impact.
You will bring strong programme leadership, people management expertise, and a commitment to partnership-based approaches that support locally led development. As a member of CBM UK’s Leadership Team (LT), you will contribute to the overall strategic direction of the organisation while leading and motivating a committed Programmes Team. You will play a key role in strengthening CBM UK’s contribution to the CBM Global federation, working closely with country teams, technical specialists, and partners to maximise our collective impact.
An experienced leader, you will provide strategic oversight across a diverse portfolio of programmes, partnerships, and funding opportunities. Overseeing an annual budget of around £4million, you will have a strong track record of delivering impactful programme strategies, building and developing high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning. This role offers an exciting opportunity for an established senior leader who is ready to take the next step into their first Director-level position, as well as those with existing director-level experience.
Forward-thinking and adaptable, you will be excited by the opportunities and challenges facing the international development sector. You will play an instrumental role in exploring the changing role of UK INGOs within the localisation agenda and will work closely with the CEO and Leadership Team to develop new approaches and business models that respond to an evolving global context. You will also bring experience of securing and growing institutional and strategic funding opportunities, alongside the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and compellingly to a wide range of audiences.
Above all, you will share our commitment to inclusion, equity, and disability rights and be motivated by the opportunity to help create a world in which all people can enjoy their rights and fulfil their potential. You will be inspired by the chance to shape both organisational strategy and sector-wide conversations, ensuring that people with disabilities remain at the heart of international development and humanitarian action.

Key Responsibilities
Programmes Leadership & Management (70%)
1. Lead the strategic and financial development and oversight of CBM UK’s international programme portfolio, ensuring the organisation delivers its programme strategy with maximum impact and effectiveness in alignment with CBM Global’s strategy. Support and line manage the team to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans to ensure excellence in programme funding, development and delivery.
2. Drive quality and effectiveness within CBM UK projects and across CBM Global by
a) ensuring effective coordination of tasks, forward planning of key activities and events, and providing space for collaboration, problem-solving, escalation and innovation across the portfolio.
b) identifying and improving policies and procedures that ensure proportional programmatic oversight and support complex institutional funding management.
c) supporting Programmes staff to work with country teams to pursue a localised approach to programming, drawing on the CBM Global localisation roadmap.
3. Work with Programme Funding colleagues to lead and oversee the development of strategic partnerships and packaging of programme approaches that secure institutional funding for CBM UK’s programmes, including by strengthening intelligence on donor trends and funder priorities, developing immediate responses to new opportunities as they arise in line with CBM UK’s mission.
4. Work closely with CBM UK finance, fundraising, communication teams and other CBM Global Members in creating and responding to opportunities for funding, driving growth, and promoting effective use of CBM UK’s voluntary income to leverage match funding.
5. Together with the Board and LT, actively manage programme risks based on CBMUK’s overall risk management framework.
6. Demonstrate leadership in maintaining an environment free from harm for project participants, CBM UK and partner staff by overseeing the management of safeguarding concerns arising in CBM UK supported projects, including reporting to the Board and Charity Commission where appropriate.
7. Promote within the Programmes Department a culture of learning, reflection and continuous improvement which only results in an improved programmatic approach but also informs and supports our advocacy, advisory, and evidence and learning work.

8. Liaise closely with CBM UK colleagues to ensure coordination and effective integration of programme activities into opportunities for fundraising, including contributing to the innovation in business models to diversify CBM UK’s funding base, including exploring sustainable funding approaches to enhance programme delivery and reduce dependency on the charitable model (in conjunction with the CEO and Director of Fundraising, Impact and Communications).

Organisational leadership (20%)
1. Contribute to the overall leadership and strategic direction of CBM UK through the Leadership Team, and in collaboration with the CEO, including contributing to Board meetings.
2. As part of the Leadership Team, take shared leadership responsibility for the wider CBM UK team of staff and volunteers, supporting effective collaboration and organisational cohesion, and taking on cross-functional responsibilities where appropriate.
3. Encourage and promote a culture of ambition, learning and excellence across the CBM UK team.
4. Be responsible for producing and initiating regular reports, briefing papers and other relevant programmes information for the CEO and Board Programmes Committee as appropriate.
5. Lead on supporting the Board Programmes Committee, working closely with the Committee Chair to ensure members are provided with the information necessary to permit strategic oversight and robust risk management.
6. Lead UK’s engagement with CBM Global's programmatic leadership, in particular Directors of Programmes in other CBM Member Teams (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland), CBM Global Secretariat, and Technical Directors, working towards greater alignment, escalation of issues, and collaboration to advance CBM UK’s approach to localisation.

Representation and advocacy (10%)
1. Represent the organisation at the highest levels, including deputising for the CEO where required. Act as a key spokesperson for CBM UK with a range of external audiences, including institutional and statutory donors and strategic partners, media, policy and decision makers and other international and national non-government organisations. Develop and maintain strong relationships with key geographic stakeholders, including diplomatic representatives, ensuring effective engagement and alignment with CBM UK’s programme priorities.
2. In alignment with Advocacy and with Advisory colleagues, contribute to best practice in the UK disability and development sector by forging good relationships with UK-based and international NGO and disability sector networks to advocate for the adoption of inclusive development policies and practices, and champion innovative inclusive programmatic approaches.

For full details please download the Recruitment Pack.

Saïd Business School is entering an exciting new chapter. As we prepare to celebrate our 30th anniversary and deliver an ambitious new five-year strategy, we are expanding our Development and Alumni team and seeking two exceptional Senior Philanthropy Officers to help drive a transformational step change in philanthropic support. Working closely with senior academics, School leadership, alumni and supporters, you will build meaningful relationships with philanthropists whose generosity can help tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges through business, entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact.

You will manage a portfolio of high-potential prospects, developing tailored engagement strategies that connect donors' passions with Oxford Saïd's strategic priorities. From identifying opportunities and cultivating relationships through to securing significant gifts and delivering outstanding stewardship, you will play a leading role in growing philanthropic income and impact across the School.

Key responsibilities:

• Managing and developing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and selected philanthropic organisations.
• Securing gifts typically ranging from £50,000 to £1 million+.
• Building trusted relationships with senior academics, School leadership, alumni volunteers and University colleagues.
• Translating world-class academic research and thought leadership into inspiring donor propositions.
• Supporting cultivation events, donor visits and stewardship activities that deepen engagement and demonstrate impact.

You will be an experienced and strategic fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing major gifts and building successful donor relationships within complex organisations. You will have experience engaging high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic organisations, consistently achieving ambitious income targets and managing prospects through the full fundraising cycle. Additionally, you will possess the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling philanthropic opportunities. A strong understanding of fundraising best practice, ethics and data governance is essential, alongside experience using fundraising CRM systems.

Further information on this role can be found in the job description.

At Saïd Business School we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Join us to build a brighter, more equitable future, where we celebrate diversity, advance equity, and nurture inclusion across everything we do.

We offer very generous benefits, some of which are:

• Generous holiday allowance of 38 days including bank holidays
• Hybrid working
• Membership of the Oxford staff pension scheme
• Discounted bus travel
• Subsidised onsite catering
• Cycle loan scheme
• Plus, many other University benefits

All applications must include a CV, Supporting Statement/Cover Letter and Current Salary.

The closing date for applications is Friday 7 August 2026 at 12.00 noon. Please note, this vacancy may close earlier than advertised if we receive a high number of suitable applications.